CARSON CITY –Gov. Brian Sandoval has issued a proclamation declaring today as Paul Laxalt Day in Nevada. The former U.S. Senator, former Lt. Governor and former Governor celebrates his 90th birthday today.

Paul Laxalt.

“Senator Laxalt was a champion for our state and our country and it is fitting to honor his contributions on this special day,” Sandoval said. “From his work on Lake Tahoe conservation efforts with then-Governor of California Ronald Reagan to the creation of the intern program in his Senate office in Washington, D.C., Senator Laxalt has had a profound impact on Nevada. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to intern for Senator Laxalt and I thank him for the friendship he has so generously offered me throughout my career.”

As governor, Laxalt led the way to allow corporate ownership of gaming establishments, expanded the park system, implemented prison reform, appointed the first African-American to a Nevada governor’s cabinet and left his successor a budget surplus.

As a senator, Laxalt spearheaded the fight against the Panama Canal Treaties, helped stop the MX missile basing system from coming to Nevada, passed legislation to help victims of crime, passed an amendment to slash funding for the Yucca Mountain program, played a key role in implementing President Reagan’s legislative agenda, and convinced former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to leave office peacefully thus helping to prevent a Civil War.

After his career in public service, Laxalt was a partner in a national law firm and later formed a small government consulting firm known as The Paul Laxalt Group. He is husband to wife Carol, father to daughters Gail, Sheila, Michelle, Kevin, Kathleen and Denise and son John Paul and brother to sisters Sue and Marie and was a loving brother to brothers Robert, John and Peter (all deceased).